1311

Details must be checked 1311 CONNECTIONS (Paul Stewart) [email protected] Please mention BLN

1814] PROPERTY SECTION: (1) Pinhoe Stationmaster's House: Built for the station opening in 1871 by
the London & South Western Railway on the Up platform London end. Many original features; benefits
from an adjacent four lifting barrier level crossing, 3 beds, 2 reception rooms, easy local transport links
available! £275k see https://goo.gl/Rg1fhd (pictures). Smart Estate Agent Ltd 01392 976839.

1815] (2) Whimple Station: A substantial 1860 built converted station house on the single (former Up)
platform, 4-beds, many original features, independent annexe. Through trains to Waterloo and Exeter
on your doorstep; £550k. https://goo.gl/UMyjQV has pictures/floor plans. Redferns 01404 228971.
1816] (3) Plas Y Dduallt Tan-y-Bwlch: The perfect holiday cottage! A large Grade II listed, 16th Century
Manor House in 5 acres overlooking the Vale of Ffestiniog with fantastic views. 6-beds, two staircases.
When retired Colonel Andrew Campbell (1911-1982) purchased Plas Y Dduallt, part of the Tan-y-Bwlch
Estate sale in 1962, there was no driveway to the property. In 1965 the Ffestiniog Railway allowed him
to construct and, prior to that section reopening to passengers, use a small station platform. He had
running powers to drive his loco and park on a private siding next to the platform. Owners and visitors
(only) staying at Plas Y Dduallt can, by arrangement with the FR, still catch the train here (but not drive
a loco!). Campbell's Platform opened as a private halt from 6 Apr 1968 when the FR reached Dduallt.
£795k; https://goo.gl/CnxAd7 has many pictures and floor plans. Carter Jonas 020 3733 4406.

1817] Ffestiniog Round Robin: (BLN 1306.1246) An excellent value one-day circular tour (not a rover
ticket but breaks of journey are allowed). Any train, not just ATW, any time in either direction from
stations between Crewe, Chester, Shrewsbury, Porthmadog or Crewe, Chester, Llandudno Junction and
Blaenau Ffestiniog. Includes a Ffestiniog Railway single journey (not return) either way. Travel via the
North Wales Coast and Conwy Valley line, returning via the Cambrian Coast line and Shrewsbury or the
other way round. Free from/to Holyhead, Aberystwyth/Pwllheli to the circular route. From any station
on the route or in North Wales £39 Adults; £19.50 Child (thick line). Birmingham, Warrington, Liverpool,
Manchester, Bidston or intermediately via Shrewsbury, Chester or Crewe £44 Adult, £22 Child (dashed
line). They are difficult to find on machines and need to be put in as from a named station on the route
to 'Ffestiniog Round Robin'; note two 'fs'. UPDATE: Although the ATW website says there are no Railcard
discounts, the £39 ticket was bought for £25.75 with a Senior Railcard recently (keep this to yourself).



X.125] Blackpool Trams 22 & 23 Sep 133rd Anniversary Weekend: Walking tours of Rigby Road and
Starr Gate Depots. (Sat 22nd sold out) contact Emma 01253 209521 for details and to book a tour.
For more details about this weekend (Gold timetable) see https://goo.gl/j7pe8Y (previous page).

1818] Lea Bailey (Gold Mine) Light Railway (2ft gauge), 22/23 Sep: HR9 5TR, (SO 6445 1957), hidden
in the lovely Forest of Dean. Open weekend (e-BLN 1267.X163 with photos). 'Driver for a Fiver', the
only way to do this line, partly on The Mitcheldean Road & Forest of Dean Junction Railway, later part
of the GWR, from Whimsey (Cinderford) - Mitcheldean Road, on the Hereford, Ross & Gloucester
Railway. It was built but never used north of Drybrook Quarry. Eimco: 401 4wCA 'Whistling Pig', '12B'
2 ton rockershovel, '24' 4 ton rockershovel and Simplex 4wD 21282 working; rock drill demonstrations.

1819] Alan Keef Ltd Charity 'Steam-Up & Open Day' 22 Sep 11.00-16.30: (MR p18) A40 (SO 665 214),
Ross-on-Wye, HR9 7LQ, with parking. Light railway engineers and locomotive builders; open day,
exhibits and 2ft gauge railway rides. £6 Adult, £2.50 Child. Only 2 miles by road to the Lea Bailey Light
Railway (above). The Perrygrove Railway is running normally, but their gala is the weekend before.

X.126] Edinburgh Trams 'Behind the Scenes': Sat 29 Sep free entry. The first time that Gogar Depot
has been open to the general public, 60-90 minutes. Includes an insight into training, a tour of the
Operations Control Centre and workshop; guided tours, information leaflets/notes and audiovisual
presentation. Must be booked at https://goo.gl/42yKYQ Over 18s only and Photo ID is required.

X.127] Virgin Trains: The traditional removal of Off-Peak ticket restrictions for passengers travelling
out of London Euston on a Friday evening during the summer school holidays has been extended until
26th October. As well as increasing the number travelling this has reduced significant overcrowding on
the first Off-Peak trains. Note that all Off-Peak restrictions are generally removed on all Virgin Trains
between Christmas and the New Year and the 05.00 and 05.24 services from Wolverhampton (and
intermediate stations to Rugby inclusive) to London are 'Off-Peak' all week at all times anyway.

X.128] Siemens Northampton Rail Depot and National Training Academy for Rail Public Open Day,
Sat 13 Oct 10.00-17.00: Heathfield, Northampton, NN5 7QP. Each year Siemens opens one train
maintenance site to the public. A FREE behind the scenes tour of Northampton Kings Heath site and,
for the first time, the National Training Academy for Rail. Class 350 Desiro EMUs close up; sit in a
driver's cab and taking a walk underneath a train in the maintenance pit. Get 'hands on' with the
technology and training involved in keeping the trains safe, reliable and comfortable for the travelling
public. Information about in the rail industry and opportunities to join Siemens. Family friendly
activities throughout the day. Booking required for an hour arrival slot, last arrival 16.00 - closes 17.00;
allow 2 hours. You can spend as long as you wish but may not be admitted early. Under 16s must be
accompanied by an adult. No onsite parking (except pre-booked disabled parking) but it is only a short
walk from Northampton station and the town centre. There are some uneven surfaces and stairs. See
http://www.facebook.com/whistlestoptour tickets available at https://goo.gl/Fa7qec from 8 Sep.

X.129] London Transport Museum, Hidden London *NEW DATES* Oct to Dec: https://goo.gl/tSzJLt
includes Aldwych, 55 Broadway, Charing Cross, Clapham South, Down Street, Euston (which ends in
the current format with HS2 construction) and three station architecture tours; highly recommended
by your Editor. Some include refreshments. Advance online booking from 5 Sep for those on the (free)
mailing list; opens to the general public from 7 Sep. 020 7565 7298 (open 10.00 to 17.30 daily).

●Bookings Officer: Jill Everitt, 4 Barnside Way, Moulton, NORTHWICH, CW9 8PT. [email protected]
●Fixtures Secretary: Kev Adlam, 53 Kemble Close, Wistaston, CREWE CW2 6XN. [email protected]
●Sales: Mark Gomm, 84 Mornington Road, STOKE-ON-TRENT, ST1 6EL. 01782 769960 (day). [email protected]
●Paper BLN Problems: Dave Monger, 6 Underhill Close, GODALMING, GU7 1NU [email protected] Text/ring Editor.
●Electronic Messages (to submit short notice information)/e-bln or BLN problems: Nick Garnham [email protected]
●Editor: Paul Stewart, 4 Clarence Close, MALVERN, WR14 3HX. 01684562862 07790652351. [email protected]
●MAPS: By permission of the National Library of Scotland http://maps.nls.uk/index.html
●Published by the Branch Line Society, 10 Sandringham Road, Stoke Gifford, BS34 8NP. ISSN 1354-0947

X.130] PS, Class 385 EMUs: (BLN 1310.1697) ABOVE: The new driver's side flattened windscreen
(right) and the curved version on the other side (left) which will be replaced. A quarter of Glasgow -
Falkirk High - Edinburgh services are now operated by these EMUs. (Stephen Atkinson 27 Aug 2018)